Some political scientists such as Fareed Zakaria have written on the rise of illiberal democracy around the world. Fareed argues that American democracy is at risk, categorizing it as a flawed democracy. An illiberal democracy refers to a situation where democratically elected governments routinely flout liberal principles, the rule of law and fundamental rights. On the other hand, liberal democracy is marked by the rule of law, press freedom, right of speech and separation of powers. In this regard, I believe America is still a robust liberal democracy and does not fit the explanation of illiberal democracy.
There is still freedom of the press in the American democracy that would not exist in illiberal democracy. The media is still aggressively involved in fact-checking and challenging the president at every turn, including a confrontational approach to the White House in demanding professional responsibility. Sometimes this press freedom has resulted in unfair coverage of President Trump, but there is little he can do about it. In an illiberal democracy, the state could be using all sorts of tools to dominate the press and shape public opinion.
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Secondly, the courts remain independent in the United States, which is an aspect of liberal democracy. The courts continue to limit executive power, where the president cannot interfere with its decisions and functions. In an illiberal democracy such as Russia, the judicial system is not independent, and the president has purged it to tighten his grip on power. This is different in America where the courts have struck down Trump’s “travel ban” among other provisions to show independence. As a result, a lot of Americans trust the judicial system and use lawyers to find justice.
Furthermore, Congress is also an independent body and not a rubber stamp as in illiberal democracy. In America, the president does not influence Congress from passing their agenda, which is seen when they pass laws against Trump’s wishes. Republicans have gone against the wishes of Trump in passing some laws.
In conclusion, any democracy can become illiberal, but American democracy under Donald Trump is yet to become one. There is no deep state in America; just an impenetrable bureaucracy made up of professional civil servants. Therefore, arguing that American democracy is illegal is naïve, as the constitution has continued to maintain the liberal democracy.
